Transmission-gearing.



0. A. WARD. TRANSMISSION GEAEING.

APPLICATION FILED PEBJB, 1909.

Patented July 12, 1910.

ITED' STATES PATENT. OFFICE.

CHARLES A. WARD, OFPIT'ISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

TBANSMISSION GEARING.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, CHARLES A. WARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and usefulI'mprovements 1n Trans- 'mis'sion-Gearing, of which the following is .at the normal speed of the axle. Theinvention is designed to combine with thehub of the wheels, suitable clutch mechanism adapted to be normally maintained in disengaged relation with the hub and to be coupled therewith automatically due to the rotation of the axle, in either direction, with means for insuring engagement of'the parts for operation when desired;

In the accompanying drawings Figure l is a view in end elevation of the hub element and itsfparts, partly broken away. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view indicated by the line I, I, of Fig. 1.

As shown in' the drawings, the axle S is mounted 'in bearings G having similar wheel hub is however, provided with a companion casing or head I coverin cavity and frictionally held against rotation, and hearing by its hub sleeve 11 upon the bearing extension '9. Said hub 71 is provided with a holding friction lug F and an adjusting set screw D for f iictional en gagement with said bearing extension.

B representsfriction shoes, one at each opposite side of the axle, or of any number desired, said shoes being rounded to fit within the inner periphery of the wheel hub A as clearly shown, for frictional engagement therewith when pressed outwardly as hereinafter described;

The head I is provided with inwardly extending holding or locking keys 2' in suitsleeves g, the wheel hubA being mounted by its'sleeve a rotatably upon the axle. The

the hub S pecification of Letters Patent. PatentedJ 11y 12, 191()' Application filed February 13, 1909. .Serial No. 417,691. 7

able receiving slots 6' of shoes B, thereby providing guiding and centralizing means for said shoes.

Keyed to the axle S by a key p is a hub R connected by radially extending pivoting lugs or sockets? and pairs of pitmen H,

with theinner faces of shoes B. The outer ends of pitmen H extend as shown, into suitable receiving sockets on the inner sides of shoes B or are connected therewith in any other suitable manner.

'The shoes B are normally tended to be retracted from frictional engagement by follows: Upon rotation of axle S the shoes, by means of the rotating hub R and pitmen H, (one at each side only operating) will be thrust outwardly'into binding ei'lgagement with the inner periphery of the hub and will impart rotative travel thereto and resulting traction. Uponthc speed of the wheel exceeding that of the axle, the shoes B will be separated therefrom by the rotation of the wheel and the retractive effect of springsL and the wheel will'remain uncoupled from the coupling mechanism as long as these conditions continue, or until the speed of the axle tends to exceed that of the wheel.

The mechanism may be applied with equally ood results to a counter-shaft geared with the prime mover, the countershaft beinggeared with the axle wheels through sprocket mechanism or other suitable means, and either arrangement will operate to produce the effects'desired. In additionto the advantages noted, I avoid the necessity of making the axle in two sections with the accompanying usual differential gearing, thus securing the advantages of strength and simplicityinherent in a one piece axle.

l'Vhile the construction shown and described is the preferred. one for carrying outmy invention, it will be understood that it may be variously changed or modified by the skilled mechanic to secure the same results, and that all such changes are to be ing claims.v

.1 considered as within the scope of the follow What I claim is -1. The combination with a shaft and a hearing therefor, of a wheel freely mounted on the shaft andhaving aninner annular periphery, a companion head rotatably mounted on the bearin and engaging the periphery of said whee, a'hub secured to the shaft, oppositely arranged friction shoes, meansconnecting the shoes with, the com-.

panion head, and pairs of pitmen connecting the shoes with the hub at. opposite sides thereof, one pitman of each pair being operative to press the shoe into engagement with the wheel when the speed of the hub tends to exceed from the s eed of the wheel, substantially as set fort 2. The combination with a shaft and a bearing therefor, of a wheel freely mounted on the shaft and having an innerannular periphery, a companion head rotatably' mounted on the bearingandengaging the periphery of said wheel, a hub secured to' the shaft, oppositely arranged friction shoes, means connecting the shoes withthe companion head, pairs of pitmen connecting the shoes with the. hub at opposite sides thereof, one pitman of each pair being operative to press the shoe into engagement with the sitely lfrranged friction shoes, a plurality of -pitmen connecting each 'shoe with the hub, and means extending inwardly from the companion head and engaging the shoes providing guiding means therefor, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination with a shaft and a bearing therefor, of a wheel freely mounted on the. shaft having an inner annular-periphery, a. companion head mounted ,jon the bearing and engaging said wheel, a hub se- .tion shoes fixedly engaging the'companion head against lateral movement but having a limited' radial movement independent each shoe with .the hub, and springs connecting the shoes, substantially asset forth. 5,, The combinatibn' with the axle'fand its hicle .whe'el' freely. mounted by its hub upon the axle, oppositely arranged clutching shoes of the wheel, a companion headmounted on necting the companion head with said shoes, an inner-hub in rigid engagement with the shaft h'aving oppositel the center thereof, and means forretracting the shoes, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination with the axle and its bearing having an extended sleeve, of a vehicle wheel freely mounted by its hub upon the axle, oppositely arranged clutching shoes of the wheel, a com anion head'lmounted on the sleeve with rietion mechanism, a hub in rigid engagement with the'shaft havof 't e center thereof, springs connecting. theshoes, and centering keys extending inwardly from the companion head and engaging. the shoes, substantially as set forth. In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES A. WAR-D. Witnesses:

C. M. CLARKE,

' lnAs. S. LEPLEY.

cured to'the shaft, oppositely arranged'frichearing having an extended sleeve,-of a ve adapted to frietionally engage the interior thereof, a plurality -of pitmen connecting 1 the sleeve with frictionmechanism and engaging the'vehicle' wheel hub, means con arranged pairs of pltmen engaging thes oes at eachs'idejof.

adapted to' frietionally engage the'interior ing 'itmen engaging the shoes at each side. 1 

